Improvement in belt-tighteners



L. FUNKE.

Belt Tighteners.

Patented Jan. 23, i872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS FUNKE, OF CHAMPION MILLS, NEAR BELEN, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BELT-TIGHTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,943, dated J annary 23, 1872.

Specification describing a certain Improved Belt-Tightener, invented by LoUIs FUNKE, of Champion Mills, near Belen, in the county of Valencia and Territory of New Mexico.

My invention consists in a toothed segment for workin g the moving jaw of a clamp or belttightener by gearing with a toothed bar and being revolved by a hand-lever or crank so mounted in the said moving jaw that it can be readily lifted out of gear with the bar to allow of moving the jaw away from the fixed one, and yet be properly maintained in gear with the said bar when required to force the movable jaw toward the fixed one for clamping anything between them, or drawing the ends of the belts together.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved device, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the fixed jaw of the clamp or tightener, with pins for entering holes in the belt when used as a belt-tightener; B, the movable one, with similar pins; 0, the toothed bar, connected to A and having the movable jaw fitted to slide back and forth on it. D is the segment, mounted on the moving block and gearing with the toothed bar for moving said block. E is the handle for turning the wheel, and F is a pawl for locking and holding the movable jaw. The journals G of the segment D are mounted in bearings in housings H, from which a slot, I J, extends obliquely rearward from the fixed block and outward from theb ar B in such manner that,

by lifting or drawing the segment in the directions of the said slots, the journals can be removed from the bearings and the segment disconnected from the toothed bar to allow said segment to be turnedback for another action after being turned as far forward as the lever will admit of, or for movingthe jawback and then, by moving the segment back again toward the toothed bar, it will gear therewith and the journals will fall into their bearings, where they will be retained by the action of the forces expended on the lever in moving the jaw O toward jaw A.

In using the instrument for a belt-tightener the pins are engaged with holes made in the belt at some distance behind the holes for the lacet or other fastenings, and the ends forced together by turning the wheel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The toothed segment for moving jaw B, mounted in slotted bearings, substantially in the manner herein described, for connecting and disconnecting with the toothed bar, all as shown.

2. A belt-tightener, consisting of the jaws A B, provided with pins adapted for engaging the ends of a belt, the toothed bar, toothed segment, and lever, all constructed and arranged substantially as specified.

LOUIS FUNKE.

Witnesses:

LoUIs HUNING, JOHN BECKER. 

